He was fiddling with the radio, trying to find the station that played his favorite 80’s songs.

“Dad? Can you please keep your eyes on the road?” You asked nervously.

“It’s ok sweetie,” he concentrated on the radio, not even hearing your question.

You glanced at the road, biting your lip. “Dad please?”

All you heard were the sounds of songs quickly changing into new ones.

“Dad you’re scaring me,” your voice was now nervous.

“Dad plea-”

You were interrupted by the loud “Shhh” from your dad.

With some reluctance, you obeyed him and stayed as quiet as you could. You closed your eyes, trying to stop your shaking, telling yourself that everything was fine and that your dad knew what he was doing. When you calmed down, you opened your eyes.

“Dad!” you screamed.

Glass shattered. Horns blared. You fell unconscious.

Your eyes shot open. Your heart was beating loud and fast as you lay in a pool of sweat, traumatized by the haunting event. Nails dug deep into your palms as you clenched your fists.

It took you a while for you to realize that your phone was ringing.

You grabbed your phone and placed it to your ear.

“Hello?” You said in between deep breaths.

“________? Oh shit! Did you have that dream again?” It was your boyfriend.

You didn’t say anything.

“________. Clear your mind and breath in and out. In and out. In and out,” He instructed.

You followed his instructions, closing your eyes and focusing on the blackness while taking deep breathes. After a few minutes, you calmed down.

“I’m fine,” you said, taking your last deep breath. “Thank you.”

He chuckled, “No problem.”

“So, what do want? It’s four in the morning you know.”

“I wanted to know where you were today, or yesterday I mean.”

You sighed in annoyance, “I already told you. I had to go to the nurse because I had stomach pains.”

He laughed, “Nice try _______. Now where were you?”

Shit. He didn’t believe you.

Now what were you going to tell him? You couldn’t tell him that you were hanging out with Ivan. You would break your promise.

“Look _______. We’ve been dating for two years. I know pretty much everything about you, things that not even your friends know. Don’t try to lie to me.”

It was true. He knew everything about you: from your favorite color all the way to how you pulled your pinkie finger when you were upset or scared. Plus, aside from your mom, he was the only one who knew about the car crash, knew that you suffered from amnesia and because of that, you could barely remember anything that happened before the crash and that you were still struggling to regain your memories.

“I won’t get mad at you. Promise.”

Maybe you could trust him.

“Alright fine,” you took a deep breath. “I was hanging out with Ivan.”

Everything was quiet for a while.

“Why are you hanging out with him?” He asked, finally breaking the silence.

That made you annoyed.

“That’s the response I get after telling you something that I promised not to tell?” You almost yelled. “Plus, he doesn’t deserve-”

“Wait, he doesn’t want anyone knowing that you hang out with him?” he interrupted.

Silence.

“What? Do you know why?” you asked, now curious.

He sighed, “Well, he doesn’t want to get hurt. If you told anyone you hung out with him, people will get the wrong idea and hurt him.”

Something changed in his voice.

Was it pity?

“You do know what those wrong ideas are right?”

“Rapist!”

“Murderer!”

Those hurtful remarks filled your head. You had a good understanding about what those misunderstandings were.

It made more sense now as to why Ivan didn’t want anyone to know about your friendship. After all, if you were in his place, you wouldn’t want anyone to know either.

“Listen, if you want to hang out with him, then it’s fine with me. I’ll help keep your friendship with Ivan a secret from our friends. It’s the least I can do to help you both.”

Wow, that was a little unexpected.

You smiled, “I’m glad that you’ll help me.”

The boy that has been excluded, pushed aside, disdained by everyone, needed help. And you were the one that was going to help him.